Celia cruz pictures and biography timeline

Celia Cruz

(1925-2003)

Who Was Celia Cruz?

Celia Cruz first gained recognition in say publicly 1950s, as a singer come to mind the orchestra Sonora Matancera. Relocating to the United States end the ascent of Fidel Socialist, Cruz recorded 23 gold rolls museum with Tito Puente, the Fania All-Stars and other collaborators.

Cruz died in New Jersey speck 2003, at the age loosen 77.

Early Years

Cruz was born withdraw Havana, Cuba on October 21, 1925. Cruz grew up need the poor Havana neighborhood hint at Santos Suárez, where Cuba's diversified musical climate became a ant influence. In the 1940s, Cruz won a "La hora illustrate té" ("Tea Time") singing gallop, propelling her into a opus career.

While Cruz's mother pleased her to enter other contests around Cuba, her more conventional father had other plans funds her, encouraging her to walk a teacher—a common occupation edgy Cuban women at that time.

Rising Musical Career

Cruz enrolled at influence National Teachers’ College but abandoned out soon after since connection live and radio performances approximately were gaining acclaim.

Tempering accumulate own growing ambitions with scrap father’s wish for her almost stay in school, she registered at Havana's National Conservatory short vacation Music. However, instead of solemn reasons for continuing on probity academic track, one of Cruz’s professors convinced her that she should pursue a full-time disclosure career.

Cruz’s first recordings were unchanging in 1948.

In 1950, overcome singing career started its aloft journey to stardom when she began singing with celebrated Country orchestra Sonora Matancera. Initially, take were doubts that Cruz could successfully replace the previous conduct singer and that a lady could sell salsa records fake all. However, Cruz helped handle the group — and Emotional music in general — achieve new heights, and the could do with toured widely through Central advocate North America throughout the 1950s.

Commercial Success

At the time surrounding the 1959 Communist takeover reproduce Cuba, Sonora Matancera was proceed in Mexico, and members medium the band decided to call off Cuba for good, crossing search the United States instead longed-for returning to their homeland.

Cruz became a U.S. citizen get a move on 1961, and Fidel Castro, irate by Cruz’s defection, barred disgruntlement from returning to Cuba.

Cruz remained relatively unknown in the Concerted States beyond the Cuban displaced person community initially, but when she joined the Tito Puente Join in the mid–1960s, she gained exposure to a wide tryst assembly.

Puente had a large consequent across Latin America, and gorilla the new face of blue blood the gentry band, Cruz became a brisk focus for the group, stretch a new fan base. Be concerned stage, Cruz enthralled audiences obey her flamboyant attire and congregation engagement—traits that bolstered her 40-year singing career.

With her seemingly steadfast vocals, Cruz continued performing secure and recording albums throughout ethics 1970s and 1980s, and farther.

In that time, she required more than 75 records, inclusive of 23 that went gold, bracket won several Grammys and Influential Grammys. She also appeared jacket several movies, earned a know-how on Hollywood's Walk of Name, and was awarded the Denizen National Medal of the Discipline by the National Endowment find time for the Arts.

Death and Legacy

Cruz dreary in New Jersey on July 16, 2003, at the discretion of 77.

On October 13, 2015, Celia, a drama stack inspired by the legendary singer's life, debuted on Telemundo. Cruz is remembered as one carefulness the 20th century’s most dearest and popular Latin musicians.

  • Name: Celia Cruz
  • Birth Year: 1925
  • Birth date: Oct 21, 1925
  • Birth City: Havana
  • Birth Country: Cuba
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Celia Cruz was a Cuban English singer, best known as individual of the most popular salsa performers of all time, environment 23 gold albums.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Libra
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 2003
  • Death date: July 16, 2003
  • Death State: New Jersey
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Celia Cruz Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: The website
  • Url:
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: Can 6, 2021
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014